Trying to find a place that sells a reasonably priced saucepan was enough of an adventure for me today.

Australia should consider this idea, too.

https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2026/09/16/canada-to-become-first-associate-member-of-the-eu

I remember the phrase "Baden Baden: so good they named it twice". Somehow I don't think they could use that phrase for Woy Woy or Wagga Wagga.

In Europe, strangely enough, I found that older buildings in Germany (i.e. early 20th century and late nineteenth century ones) were the most effective in keeping out both the heat and the cold. I have found that newer buildings to be heat traps.

From personal experience as an Australian, the fibre insulation doesn't really make a difference (I've lived in a place where I could see the difference before and after installation). I notice they don't have any window shutters - highly useful in hot summers.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cg5l3z7p922o

After that I think I need to call on an apothecary for a tincture of laudanum to recover and then take a hansom cab back to my lodgings.

Perhaps I'm so behind the times with technology. Today I had quite the adventure finding headphones with cables (and not bluetooth). It was like trying to ask for a gramophone and Glen Miller records.

When I think or say 'when the weather improves', I mean when it gets colder and starts raining a lot.

Because it's Woden's Day today, I presume you'll be encountering a one-eyed man, a horse with way too many legs, wolves, and ravens.

The problem with centrist and centre-left parties these days, is they're focused on pleasing the wealthy, instead of not fucking up things for the majority of the population. That's why the support of the majority is bleeding away to populist parties. Unless the middle-of-the-road parties start to realise that they should actually represent the people they're supposed to represent, democracy as we know it will disappear.

#politics

Apparently installing an app on my phone results in the unauthorised removal of a more useful one. Boo!

Now waiting in Skopje for my last bus of the day. I've been up since 3am and expect to get there at around 6pm. For some reason the women working are being given roses.

I appear to have revived the tradition of falling sick around my birthday.

Why don't people have pet cows. One plus is that mooing is a much more relaxing sound than barking.

The view this morning

A get together by some of my neighbours this morning.

Have been walking through snow covered countryside this afternoon. It's like a David Caspar Friedrich painting out here

Friday morning in Bansko, after a very windy night

The weather now. To remind people in Australia that the cold still exists.

A weird thing is happening with the ATMs here in Bansko. They are issuing leva but with a conversion to the amount in Euros. So if you ask for 400 leva, it gives you 180 leva (400 leva is approximately 180 Euros). To avoid losing money, I'll have to wait until after January 1 before withdrawing any money.

#bulgariaeuro2026